Purpose

The Assembly will be presented with the
2022/23 Annual Report of the Health Scrutiny Committee.

Content

The Assembly will be presented with the
2022/23 Annual Report of the Health Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee,
Councillor Paul Robinson, presented the Committee’s annual
report for 2022/23, outlining the statutory role of the Committee
and its key objectives which were centred around ensuring
that the needs and experiences of residents were
considered as part of the commissioning and delivery of health
services in the Borough.
 
Councillor Robinson advised on
the Committee’s work programme for 2022/23 and referred to
its key achievements, which included:
 
· 
Helping to shape the refresh for the Joint Local
Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2023-28;
· 
Making recommendations to the Early Pregnancy
Assessment Unit relating to implementing additional support for
fathers and other vulnerable individuals who experienced
miscarriage and/or pregnancy loss;
· 
Making recommendations to improve health
inequalities and promoting better access to healthcare for minority
groups; and
· 
Promoting greater collaboration between health and
voluntary sectors to improve effective care to residents,
especially over the winter period and during the cost-of-living
crisis.
 
Councillor Robinson alluded to
other issues that the Committee had looked into during 2022/23
relating to the new
integrated care system arrangements, Place-Based partnerships and
the potential effects of extreme weather conditions.  The Committee had also concluded its scrutiny
review on the potential of the voluntary and community sector (VCS)
to further contribute to reducing health inequalities within the
Borough the potential opportunities for the VCS and residents to
have a meaningful role in shaping future strategy / service
delivery.  Councillor Robinson advised
that the Committee’s recommendations and the impact of their
implementation would be included in a future report.
 
The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and
Health Integration placed on record her appreciation to the
Committee for its contribution to improving health provision and
services in the Borough.
 
The Assembly resolved to
note the Health Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2022/23, as
set out at Appendix A to the report.